Wednesday, July 3, 2013

DIY 4th of July Wreath

Today, I've got a 4th of July wreath just in time for Independence Day! This was the first project I got to do in my new craft room! And, of course, it had to have glitter in it. Because what good is a craft room if it isn't covered in glitter? ;)

To make your own, you will need:

Wire

Ribbon: red, white, and blue

Wooden star (available at craft stores)

Paint (silver, gold, red, blue, anything patriotic!) and paintbrush

Wire cutters

Scissors

Super glue or hot glue

First, paint your star. I went with gold and silver.

While your paint is drying, shape the wire into a circle however big you want the wreath to be. Add a few extra inches to your desired length and cut the wire. Then, cut two more strips of the same length.

Next, cut your ribbon, adding another few inches to your wire length. I personally think that different textures makes the braid a lot more interesting, so I used a satin cream ribbon, a glittery blue, and doubled up on a sheer red.

Twist and fold your wire and ribbon together at one end, assigning each color of ribbon to a wire.

Then, simply braid the three wires, bringing your ribbon along as you go. The first few bits of the braid are the hardest, but it gets easier as you go.

Once you've braided the full length of wire, make your circle and twist the ends of the wire together to secure it.

Glue the star to cover the wire closure, and trim the excess ribbon. I left a little hanging down, but made sure my ends were pretty.

WHAT I'M READING

I started this blog as a way for friends and family to keep in touch while I traveled abroad. Now, I hope it gives you ideas to try for crafts, food, home, and garden. I love to dabble, and I try not to buy when I can DIY!